Golden Mixtape

Back in 2009 I was saying goodbye to college and hello to reality. Across the pond a group of young musical folks were getting serious about making music their main staple in life. Forever Can Wait is a female fronted band. And yes they are going to be compared to a certain American band, but that doesn’t seem to bother FCW’s leading lass, Tash. She takes it as a compliment, and who wouldn’t? So with the obvious comparisons not a bother, FCW set out to make a name for their selves with their latest EP, Forever Can Wait. So keep on reading to see what Tash, with the help of fellow band mate, Liam had to say about their sound, pet peeves, UK bands and so much more.

Kendra: I’ve been talking to a lot of bands recently and many of them started up in 2009. What do you think is so special about that year?

Tash & Liam: I think especially in Southampton, 2008/2009 were the years that Bury Tomorrow and local pop punkers Not Advised started to move massively out of Southampton and on to bigger and better things. We think this kinda caused a lot of people to realise that they wanted to start a band even if it was just for a hobby because they liked music, but also, where a lot of bands started moving out of “the scene“, it opened spaces for new bands to take their places which has made Southampton have a strong and healthy music scene.

Kendra: Now we’re in 2011 and you released your debut EP, Forever Can Wait. But for people who have never heard of you guys, could you describe your sound?

Tash & Liam: We all think we should be living in America haha, we just have more of an American feel to our music, due to the fact we feel that we are a mix between Paramore and Four Year Strong. We like the more modern pop punk American style. Of course we listen to classic pop punk like Bowling for Soup, Blink 182 and New Found Glory they have all created some classic feel good songs, but we just prefer the more modern sound as like everyone, we want to create something new and different.

Kendra: Where did you draw the most inspiration from when writing and recording Forever Can Wait?

Tash: For me the vocal lines were Paramore and You Me At Six, they are two of my favourite bands, so they influence me a lot. For the guys, Four Year Strong definitely, but also with our song “Twisted Games” it’s a bit more “cheesy” compared to the others I think that’s where All Time Low/old You Me At Six has helped. With the last two tracks on the EP, Liam got influences from Emarosa and local band Burn The Fleet.

Kendra You’ve named Paramore as one of your influences, but is there a part of you guys that can’t wait for the day that all female fronted bands aren’t put into that “they’re just another Paramore” category?

Tash: Definitely! It’s a massive compliment to be compared to Paramore but since I was 14, I have been singing along to Paramore and we are a female fronted band and I like to change my hair colour a lot, we have to expect it. It does get really annoying though at times, for example on our new video, someone commented saying “Tash you look a lot like Hayley Williams in this!” I was like “NOOOO” haha, it’s just something we want to start to move away from and we hope we can slightly at some point.

Kendra: What were you thoughts when that whole thing went down with Paramore recently?

Tash: For me this was actually a massive blow. Where no one knows truly what happened because different people will say different things and certain things get blown out of proportion, but it was actually horrible to see my favourite band kinda break down. I’m glad they are still together, but I don’t think I personally could look up to them the way I used to, because who wants to aspire to be like a band who fight. I will still buy their music though because they make good music. The taster for “Monster” sounds awesome, I really didn’t want to like it due to the fact of what has happened, but I love it and I can’t wait to hear the full version on the 3^rdJune.

Kendra: Back to FCW’s music, do you have any musical pet peeves when playing live or recording that the other members do that get on your nerves?

Tash: With recording, mines gotta be how we write. Liam, George and Will write all the guitar, bass and drum parts for the songs, but they do it over Guitar Pro and sometimes there are easier ways to play the songs and recording the EP showed that. I’m trying/I’ve tried to break this habit and it’s slowly getting there haha. Playing live it’s gotta be when you’re trying to really perform and get the crowd involved and they just stare at you or they just stand there looking bored as if you‘re playing the worst music ever, it’s one of the most down heartening thing for a band to see, but when you get a good crowd, it’s awesome!

Kendra: Do you have any festivals lined up for the rest of 2011?

Tash: Our biggest one that we have lined up is probably First Days Of Freedom Festival. This is the first year of the festival, but so far it looks like it could be amazing, also they don’t just have big bands playing, they have opened it up for unsigned bands like ourselves to play on the smaller stages.  Also we have sent off our EP to try and get a slot at Butserfest which is in September, but we don’t know if we are playing that. I think 2012 for us will be a better year for festivals, as hopefully we will be bigger.

Kendra: Last but not least…other than playing, what else if on Forever Can Wait’s plate for the remainder of the year?

Tash: At the moment we have a tour booked with our friends in The Bottom Line, but due to our drummer going on holiday, we can only do the 1^st-5^th July with them so we are doing a headline warm up show on the 27^th June in Southampton. We’re also trying to get a couple more shows booked before we head out. Shows confirmed so far are in Midhurst, Winchester and Dundee (we can‘t believe we are going to be playing in Scotland!!), hopefully the final 2 shows will be confirmed soon. Then we aren’t sure what else. Probably going to email around to some independent labels and clothing/instrument endorsements and also just play some more shows around the UK. Oooo, and a new summer vest will hopefully out soon. Maybe a new EP, we aren’t sure, it just depends on money.

Kendra: This one really is last…You all have made a name for yourselves playing with fellow UK bands over the years, so if you had to make a mixtape of the Top 5 songs by UK bands you all have love for, who would you pick?

Tash: Burn The Fleet “Fictional Children”
Don Broco “Beautiful Morning”
Deaf Havana “Friends Like These” (although, “Nicotine And Alcohol Saved My Life” is a massive tune as well)
Not Advised “The Winner” or “A Red Light Situation”
Canterbury “Set You Right”

 
Originally published on June 25, 2011